The Falls Brawl: A day of discovery at the Pentagon

There usually aren't many surprises left by the time the final live AAU weekend of the summer rolls around. After driving more than 6,000 miles, attending more than a dozen tournaments plus practices, showcases and elite camps over the past four months, we've seen more than 300 South Dakota prospects and written about more than a hundred in that time. Coming into the Falls Brawl this weekend at the Pentagon, the one team we hadn't watched was the Dakota Thrillers.   Thankfully Thrillers coach Justin Larson reached out to let me know that his group was going to make a rare tournament appearance in Sioux Falls. He included helpful information on all of the players on the 14U squad, including point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1884017' first='Maci' last='Wammen'] of Harding County. “Maci is definitely one you will want to find time to watch,” he wrote.   That's how I came to be courtside at 9 a.m. on Saturday for the Thrillers first game at the Falls Brawl. Maci was easy to spot in her bright pink headband. Mere minutes into the opening half it was obvious that Coach Larson was right: Wammen is the real deal. Without question, the incoming freshmen is one of the top players I have watched in South Dakota, a high-octane point guard with all of the tools to be successful in collegiate basketball.   I watched the Thrillers again later in the day and in both contests Wammen played with the poise and confidence of someone much older and more experienced, controlling the pace, stretching defenses with deep shooting range and seeing passing lanes that many players simply don't recognize. Clearly one of the best pure shooters in these parts, Maci combines outstanding court vision with high basketball intelligence. A true alpha dog and coach on the floor (her dad Jay is the Harding County coach), Maci gets to her spots almost whenever she wants thanks to a strong base, superior athleticism and excellent body control. She attacks the rim with purpose, knowing she's likely to score, draw a foul or both. Then she turns around and locks down opposing guards as a tenacious on-ball defender.   Despite being not particularly tall, Maci's ceiling is really high. But she's not the only member of the group with the chops to play at the next level.   Forward [player_tooltip player_id='1874138' first='Presley' last='Trevillyan'] brought remarkable versatility to every possession. We saw the Hot Springs product a couple weeks ago at the Who's Next Showcase and she was every bit as good on Saturday. Presley has the size and instincts to defend every position on the floor while embracing tough assignments. She shoots it well, understands spacing and makes post-entry passes that have become something of a dying art. In short, Presley consistently makes winning basketball plays without needing to be the center of attention. She plays with energy, toughness and a team-first mentality.   Meanwhile, <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/quinn-scheifelbein/">Quinn Schiefelbein</a> added an entirely different dimension. Although listed at just 5'7, the forward from Pierre plays much bigger thanks to her strength, physicality and advanced offensive skill set. Early in the game she caught a pass on the move, pivoted smoothly through traffic and finished softly off the glass – a single sequence that showcased athleticism, poise, agility, soft hands and body control all at once. Later she used a sweet hesitation move to create space before finishing at the rim. That advanced effort got my attention. Left-handed, powerful and surprisingly polished for a player with relatively little experience, Scheifelbein already owns a solid offensive game for her age and has the tools to become a difficult matchup as she continues to evolve.   Here are a few more names to know from the Falls Brawl.    On a roster loaded with offensive firepower, Dimmer could easily be overlooked. She shouldn't be. The Gayville-Volin guard plays a simple, efficient game built around making good decisions and minimizing risk. Coming off the bench when we watched, she immediately used her long arms to disrupt passing lanes and create deflections while playing responsible defense. Offensively, Dimmer showed good pace in transition and soft hands around the basket, frequently using the glass to finish – something too many young players overlook. Her bouncy feet, length and steady approach make her the type of player that's difficult to find.     Standing over 6 feet tall, Spaans brings legitimate size and toughness to the floor. The Tripp-Delmont-Armour standout consistently boxed out, protected the paint and displayed sound defensive fundamentals, including several possessions where she walled up without fouling. We were especially impressed with how she battled Luverne's 6-foot-4 Gracyn Woodley, giving away size but never backing down. Spaans also showed a smooth shooting stroke, scored on a nice baby jumper in the lane and moved the ball well. Her combination of size, physicality and developing offensive skill makes her an intriguing frontcourt prospect.     We've enjoyed watching Maisie's game evolve throughout the spring and summer, and that growth continued at the Falls Brawl. The Sioux Falls Christian guard has excellent length, quick feet and a calm presence that never seems rushed. [program_tooltip program_id='1819826' first='Hoop' last='City'] features plenty of scoring options, but Wassink is ready when her number is called. We especially like her catch-and-shoot ability, where her smooth stroke consistently stands out. She also passes with authority and attacks the basket with a quick first step. As she continues to mature physically, we believe Wassink's upside will be notable.     We love watching players improve over time and that's what we've seen from Clark in the past few weeks. The Harrisburg forward immediately stands out because of her size and length, but she's also becoming much more comfortable playing in that frame. Clark rebounds well, posts up effectively and runs the floor pretty well considering she's growing into her body. She also has the confidence to face up and shoot, knocking down a clutch three-pointer late in a close game to pull her team even. We love that she wasn't afraid to take the big shot and her confidence appears to have grown with every tournament.     Mulder continues to impress because of how quickly she processes the game. The Sioux Falls Christian product combines length, mobility and a physical style with a remarkably even-keeled demeanor. She isn't flashy, but she consistently makes winning basketball plays. A crafty baseline drive through traffic showcased her ability to create scoring opportunities in tight spaces. One thing that stood out came after the whistle, when she immediately extended a hand to help an opponent off the floor. That may seem like a small thing but it's not because that type of sportsmanship speaks volumes about a player's character and outlook.     Nielsen has the length and athleticism that immediately catches your eye. The Madison forward, who plays high school ball for former Dakota State assistant coach Jamal Branco, elevated exceptionally well for rebounds and showed a quick burst of acceleration in the open floor. One of her best plays came on a smooth spin move that created a quality scoring opportunity at the basket, highlighting an intriguing offensive skill set. Nielsen wears her heart on her sleeve at this stage, making it easy to see how much she cares about every possession. As she continues to mature, that competitive fire can become one of her greatest strengths. The upside is easy to see.

There usually aren't many surprises left by the time the final live AAU weekend of the summer rolls around. After driving more than 6,000 miles, attending more than a dozen tournaments plus practices, showcases and elite camps over the past four months, we've seen more than 300 South Dakota prospects and written about more than a hundred in that time. Coming into the Falls Brawl this weekend at the Pentagon, the one team we hadn't watched was the Dakota Thrillers.